40 YEARS AGO - 1977

Return to the United States

Start of production in Mobile and foundation of Degussa Corporation.

March 7 saw the inauguration in Mobile of the production units for silicon tetrachloride, AEROSIL®, methionine, and the intermediate product methylmercaptopropionaldehyde (MMP) that were completed as part of the first construction phase at Degussa Alabama Inc. This marked Degussa’s return to the United States as a manufacturer after 60 years, because the plants and companies founded at the end of the 19th century had been seized during World War I when the United States entered the war in 1917. In December of the same year, the new company formed through the merger of Degussa Alabama Inc. with the distribution company Degussa Inc. was named Degussa Corporation. Its registered office was initially in Mobile, Alabama, but was subsequently moved to New Jersey.